I joined Chicago Force months ago, but wasn't interested in the groups because I didn't see a costuming group. WOOHOO! Now, there will be a costume group. I moved here a year and a half ago, but wasn't involved in any groups here, or even anything in fandom. I am still a member [and the official webmistress, once we get it all up] of my old group from CA, but I'm really only part of it peripherally. I love the gang, but things change, so when I moved here [after living in a virtually sci-fi-free zone...ACK!!], I knew I wanted to get more involved.

I have a question: for years I've done an alternate Jedi style, which was accepted because of the books. my CA group [the Black Fleet] is a little more relaxed than some other groups, and I don't know how Chicago Force is. I guess I can bring that concept to the first meeting and see what happens. It's a Dark Jedi/Black Jedi. Instead of brown and tan robes, I have dark grey and black. I'm mildly concerned because we had one Klingon convert who gave me grief over my choices.

I've been designing costumes for roughly ten years... have a sewing machine, but nowhere near as good as my mother [but I can sew, she's just REALLY, REALLY good.] I do more than just SW, soem of my costumes are just from the attic of my right brain... i.e. very odd, defying cataloguing. I can bring a few pictures to the meeting.

I'm known out there as Pen Guin, so I think it'll just be easier to keep that. And, yes, there is a story behind the name.

I'm not a costumer, but as a general rule, we are much more of an inclusive group rather than an exclusive one. I'm sure that everyone will be cool with a jedi in black and grey rather than brown and brown. Welcome to Chicago Force!

We don't have any guidelines or rules regarding costuming, the basic goal of the group (as I see it at the moment) is that we're just here to help each other out so we can all express our geekdom through fabric and plastic.

ditto...
Chicago Force doesn't have a code for costumes....
so ...as far as CF is concerned....I don't see any issues with your Jedi .....

The other costume groups that I am with do.....and the costume that you describe probably would not be acceptable.....the one thing that I have discovered in the past couple years as I have worn my costumes to events is that sometimes even canon costumes aren't recognized by John Q Public...that is the reason I have tried to stay with more screen accurate costumes....there is nothing worse than (when out in the general public....and away from the SW fans) to be asked.....sooooooo what is your costume?